Venezuela 1969 12-1/2 centimos
The name 'Republica de Venezuela' replaced 'Estados Unidos de Venezuela' on all coinage from 1953. Bolivar fractionals and multiples continued to be silver until 1964, at which point they became nickel in composition. The coin shown is a 1969 12½ centimos; several varieties exist, all scarce as the date was never released to the public. The first specimen was lot 4047 in Sincona sale 18 (Zürich, May 2014), where it sold for CHF 250 (about US$329 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"12 1/2 Centimos 1969. FDC. (Venezuela, 12½ centimos of 1969, uncirculated.)"
The second specimen was lot 35214 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[2] noted, "Venezuela: Republic 12-1/2 Centimos 1969-(m) MS66 NGC, Madrid mint, A coin that is absolutely superlative in all of its facets, silky with cartwheel effects and lightly champagne-dipped in hue. Approaching technical perfection."
Recorded mintage: 2,000,000.
Specification: copper-nickel, this specimen 5.00 g.
Catalog reference: KM Y-A39.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals, & Banknotes: Auction 18, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2014.
- [2]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2018 September 6-11 Long Beach Expo World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3067, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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